PESHAWAR, Jan 25: A local court on Friday adjourned hearing of pre-arrest bail petition of former MPA and leader of Awami National Party, Bashir Ahmad Bilour, and three of his associates facing charges of double murder.

The court of additional district and sessions judge, Syed Anees Badshah Bukhari, fixed Jan 29 for next hearing.

The counsel of Mr Bilour requested the court for adjournment on the ground that he had been admitted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad and the doctors had advised him complete rest for three weeks.

The applicant has claimed that he had been suffering from spinal problem and doctors had advised him surgery in the UK.

The court had granted interim pre-arrest bail to the four persons including Mr Bilour, who is also a candidate on PF-3 constituency, on Dec 4 and the case was fixed for hearing on Friday. Other three applicants are Noor Muhammad, Sajid and Irshad.

A panel of lawyers including Barrister Zahoorul Haq, Asadullah Khan Chamkani and Ishtiaq Ibrahim has been representing the applicants, whereas Dr Babar Awan has been appearing for the complainant party.

Meanwhile, Mr Bilour filed an application before the Peshawar District and Sessions Judge, Miftauddin Khan, requesting to transfer his pre-arrest bail petition to any other court.

The court fixed Jan 29 for hearing the application and put on notice the rival party.

The applicant claimed that the presiding officer of the present court was prejudiced towards him, therefore, it would be in the interest of justice to transfer his case to another court.

The applicant stated that the doctor had advised him complete rest for three weeks, but on last hearing the court adjourned the case for nine days only instead of three weeks.

A woman was killed and three people received injuries when ANP and Pakistan People’s Party workers clashed near Sarki Gate on Dec 2. Later on, a critically injured person, Abdul Wahab, a close relative of the rival candidate Muhammad Iqbal, also expired.